DRAFT AGENDA
May 6th, 2015
8:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast
9:00 AM
Government Panel
How all levels of government can work together to foster a strong manufacturing
sector
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Discussion points TBA
Speakers:
Gerald Peets, Director General, Manufacturing and Life Sciences Branch, Industry
Canada
Trevor Dauphinee, Director, Advanced Manufacturing Branch, Ontario Ministry of
Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
9:45 AM
Case Study: Canada’s Technology Triangle (Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge, &
Surrounding Townships)
How to retain and expand your manufacturing sector by effectively responding to
their changing needs
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What is the overall state of manufacturing in the Waterloo Region
What role has infrastructure improvements played in responding to shifts in
manufacturing
What issues do they struggle with and how have they responded
Moderator: Jason Kipfer, Senior Business Development Officer, Canada’s Technology
Triangle Inc.
Industry Speakers:
Joerg Steiber, CEO, Ontario Drive & Gear (ODG)
Mike Cybulski,, Owner, Ramp Inc.
Barb Fennessy, Executive Dean, Entrepreneurship and Applied Research at
Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
10:30 AM
Break
11:00 AM
Economic Developers’ Panel Discussion
What are the challenges, impediments, and opportunities for urban manufacturing?
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What drives a city’s allure to manufacturers?
How can cities capitalize on their location?
How can cities prosper with a diversified economy?
How does location fuel investment and innovation?
How discussion and collaboration with companies can create new opportunities
Moderator: Frank Miele, Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, York
University
Speakers:
David C. Paul, Director, Economic Development, City of Brockville
Cindy Symons-Milroy, Director, Economic Development, City of Oshawa
Tim Feduniw, Senior Manager, Economic Development, Economic Development
Winnipeg Inc.
John Alderdice, Manager Business Retention & Expansion, City of Toronto
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:15 PM
Manufacturers’ Panel Discussion
What are manufacturers looking for from cities and communities to ensure they
remain competitive and viable?
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What factors lead to reinvestment in domestic manufacturing?
What can cities do to retain and entice manufacturers to their community?
What future prospects do manufacturers see for their industry?
Moderator:
Speakers:
Steven Tatar, President/Creative Director, Ohio Knitting Mills
Roy Timms, Chair, Niagara Industrial Association
Tony Mammoliti, YNOT Cycle (Toronto)
Craig Wolfe, President, CelebriDucks, Cocoa Canard (Operations Reshored)
2:15 PM
Case Study: CRIQ
A one stop shop: Why R&D and Innovative urban manufacturing are a natural fit for
local economic prosperity
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How thinking differently about productivity and risk sharing is delivering greater
value in local manufacturing
How collaboration is driving innovation and increased economic value, like 3D
metal printing out of Réseau Québec
Why sustainable best practices and managing the environmental impact of urban
manufacturing is vital for long term growth
Speaker:
Lyne Dubois, Vice-President, Business Development, Centre de recherche
industrielle du Québec (CRIQ)
3:00 PM
Break
3:30 PM
Policy Panel
Government’s role in leading and fostering a strong manufacturing sector
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Explore the role of government to facilitate foreign direct investment, domestic
expansion and retention of manufacturing businesses
Understand what governments can do to support manufacturers through the
permitting and development process
The changing landscape of site selection and how to remain competitive within that
landscape
Create opportunities to work within regulation, while developing pro-industry
policies & zoning
Speakers:
Liz Hanson, Economic Vitality Coordinator, City of Boulder, CO
Carrie Manchuk, Manager, Manufacturing Investment Unit and Investment Ready:
Certified Site Program, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and
Infrastructure
Additional speakers to come
4:30 PM
Open Discussion: Practical lessons in reviving manufacturing
This moderated Q&A discussion will draw on the wisdom of seasoned manufacturing
experts and audience members to draw up a list of practical and implementable solutions
for reviving your manufacturing base. Discussion topics will include:
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How do you highlight manufacturing’s value to the country’s economy?
How do you reach young people to build a well-trained work force?
What can all three levels of government do better to build and retain local
manufacturers?
Moderator:
5:00 PM
Day 1 ends – Evening cocktails networking begin
May 7th, 2015
8:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast
9:00 AM
Case Study: Australia
How manufacturing has evolved and continues to hold steady despite competitivity
pressures
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How has Australian manufacturing and markets changed over the centuries?
How have Australian cities capitalized on a manufacturing renaissance?
What role do small to medium enterprises have locally, and how to increase
productivity and export?
Speaker:
Marcus Westbury, Writer, broadcaster and founder of Renew Australia
10:00 AM
Case Study: Maker Movement
Start-up Industries: What small scale manufacturers are doing to and for the local
economy
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How local is spreading – and seeing some success?
How cities can tap into the craftsmanship resurgence?
Why entrepreneurship is growing, especially among the youth
What is the benefit of niche innovation – and where do we see it going?
How locally manufactured goods translates into increased civic pride
How to attract, nurture, and support a young entrepreneurial class that will drive
economic vitality
Speakers:
Stephen Charters, Co-founder, Research Coordinator, Made in Montreal
Derek Brunelle, Director and Founder, Toronto Made
10:30 AM
Break
11:00 AM
Case Study: Industry 4.0; only for European Manufacturing?
Building a more competitive Canadian manufacturing sector: What manufacturers
and governments can do to be the new leaders?
Europe is already implementing Industry 4.0, led by the Netherlands and Germany. With
the Canada/EU trade agreement coming, and a higher requirement to be globally
competitive, Canada stands to gain a lot – but it can’t be business as usual. All stakeholders
- Education, Government and Industry - will gain practical solutions for this new joint
approach.
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What is Industry 4.0 and why is it important?
What is the philosophy Canada should adopt, from cyber physical to flexibility and
customization?
How will different sectors benefit, such as oil and mining, aerospace, medical
devices, equipment and machinery?
What should cities know in order to attract flexible manufacturers to their region?
How the city region of Eindhoven turned their economy around to be one of the
most innovative regions in the world
Speaker:
Peter van Harten, founder of the Manufacturing Accelerator Program and
EVP/Partner, Group Isah International, Netherlands
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:15 PM
Case Study: Philadelphia, PA
Details TBA
Speakers:
Michael S. Cooper, Director, Office of Manufacturing & Industry, City of Philadelphia
2:00 PM
Case Study:
Education in manufacturing - Training an industrial workforce that can grow and
flex with the changing economic climates
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What can be done to forge partnerships with industry, associations, high schools
and colleges?
What training approaches have worked to retain manufacturing jobs in other
jurisdictions?
Which partnerships are most – and least - effective?
Speaker:
2:45 PM
Case Study:
Why food processing is a natural fit for fostering and building a more robust local
economy
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Why local matters – and how the community is rallying around local food
production
How rural and small town initiatives are leading to economic success
How can food production offset or reverse demographic trends in rural
communities
Speaker:
3:00 PM Day 2 ends